Here Is How Healing My Gut Changed my Sulfite Tolerance for the Better

The moment I never thought would happen:

*Cue me sitting in the McDonald’s drive through waiting to order 2 snack wraps and some fries*

When I heard snack wraps were back at McDonald’s there was no question about it – I’d be headed to the golden arches on July 10th for their return. It had been almost 6 years since my last McDonald’s trip and I honestly did not see myself ever returning. But with the work I’ve put into healing my gut and improving my overall well being – I was confident it was okay to give it a go! I knew any possible symptoms would be minor and worth the experience. I’m proud to have reached this point in my sulfite sensitivity journey.

Why the almost 6 year break from snack wraps?

It wasn’t solely McDonald’s discontinuing their snack wraps, but also because I was so sick from what I now know was a sulfite sensitivity. I reached a point where eating anything not cooked at home made me sick for days! We all know that fast food isn’t always the easiest on the body, but I truly had no idea my issues went deeper than that.

What ingredients make snack wraps so high in sulfites?

Manufacturers may not label all foods that contain sulfites below 10ppm. So how can you know if something may contain sulfites? Here’s an example of a few ingredients in a snack wrap that I’d avoid nine times out of ten:

Full ingredient list linked here

Sulfite sensitivities are ~funny~ because while some people can tolerate ingredients like those above, others become incredibly sick. There are many factors that play into that but a big one is a person’s overall health! If you’re someone with leaky gut you may experience more severe digestive upset or if you’re someone with asthma you may experience more difficulties breathing.

You’re overall health goes even beyond underlying conditions. It can be a lack of sleep, stress, or even seasonal allergies that make reactions worse – which means you could tolerate some foods one day but not the next. This is why it’s extra important to care for your overall well being 🙂

Healing my gut & how it helped me tolerate sulfites better

Healing my gut and improving my overall health are the two biggest factors in being able to eat McDonald’s again and *not die*. If I ate this type of fast food approximately 6 years ago I’d be rather sick. The stomach upset, trouble breathing, increased heart rate, brain fog, fatigue, etc. would have been unbearable. I know simply because that’s what I experienced for almost my whole life.

After my diagnosis, fast food didn’t even cross my mind. I focused solely on organic, whole foods for 2 years before even reintroducing low sulfite foods. It was hard, but it was necessary. I worked with a nutritionist and incorporated digestive enzymes and many other supplements to help heal the gut. While adding things into my routine helped, the true answer was giving my body time away from high sulfite foods.

You can check out my post “10 steps to start feeling better after a sulfite sensitivity diagnosis” for more information!

So was it worth it?

Funny enough…I can’t say I’d eat it again. While McDonald’s can be tasty for some, it’s definitely not for me anymore. After a long period without something that (as we all know) is not good for your body/brain/etc. the taste for it just about disappears.

Here’s a better option you should try instead of the “real” snack wraps!

You know the joke/meme “We’ve got McDonald’s at home”? Well in this case my recommendation to you is to actually make McDonald’s at home. It’s a way better option for those with sulfite sensitivities, but really also for everyone. It’s also a great way to customize it and in the long run it’s cheaper!

Here’s what you need for DIY snack wraps:

• Organic tortillas (either homemade or I like to buy La tortilla factory flour tortillas (linked here) from Whole Foods)
• Chicken cutlets OR grilled chicken (my olive oil chicken cutlet recipe can be found in my ebook!)
• Organic sliced cheese
• Shredded lettuce
• Organic ranch or homemade ranch

There’s a variety of options for sourcing the ingredients that work for you and it’s definitely worth it! I’ve been loving my homemade snack wraps more than the “real” thing. If I’m feeling something a bit different I love to use organic BBQ sauce or spicy ranch.

Here are two of my recent homemade snack wrap dinners:

To wrap it up:

Quick, easy and delicious fast food can be appealing – I get it! But after years of experience trialing different foods on the go, DIY food at home and much more, my vote will always be for the homemade version. You’ll feel better, your body will thank you, and you’ll fuel yourself with high-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients. Get creative, get crafty and if you’re craving the real thing – hell, go get McDonald’s!

Share on Facebook

Contact Me